To select automotive enthusiasts, "JDM" is more than just an acronym for Japanese Domestic Market. JDM is not simply rare parts. It is a way of life. A culture. A modus vivendi. JDM is a lifestyle.

Monday, January 22, 2018

Varis Japan through the lens of Daniel Olivares

Shokunin - The Varis Japan Story by Daniel Olivares

THIS is why I love the Japanese tuning culture. This video is precisely the reason I love this stuff. Ingenuity, masterful craftsmanship, attention to detail, and unparalleled pride are just a few of the qualities that make Varis one of the top aerodynamics companies in the world. Their fresh and innovative designs are not only beautiful but functional. They are truly pioneers of the tuning industry. I love these behind-the-scenes sneak peeks into the tuning culture of Japan because we become witnesses to how things are done. We can soak up all that goes into a design or a shop build. I love that short documentary videos such as this one by Daniel Olivares can help to change attitudes. It can inspire. Videos like this have the ability to show people that the true talent of the industry is in companies like Varis. For example, this video allows us to see with our own eyes the molding by hand of aero designs. It allows us to see the workspace and interior of the Varis shop. It allows us to see that Varis has 14 employees. Fourteen! Let that sink in. Fourteen employees. Hand-made components. There are no conveyor belts pumping out bumpers. There are not hundreds of people bubble-wrapping fiberglass and carbon fiber before loading them onto freight trucks for delivery. One of the common points made by pro-replica "enthusiasts" is that knock-offs and replicas are the way of the world and that we all need to get used to it. There are often comparisons to knock-off products like generic drugs or off-brand sodas. This video allows us to see for ourselves just how absurd those arguments really are. Again, Varis has 14 employees. When someone purchases a Wal-Mart brand soda or generic baby powder, Coca-Cola and Johnson & Johnson are not going to feel the effects quite as strongly as Varis does when people purchase replica aero components from the hack companies who copy their designs for the sole purpose of turning a profit. This video allows us to see for ourselves that Varis is not a multi-billion dollar corporation. In that way, it shows us that purchasing replica parts can actually harm the vanguards of the tuning world. It shows us that there is real pride and real passion behind these designs, something that cannot be said about replica and knock-off parts.This really is why I love the Japanese tuning industry. This stuff is what it is all about. I will stop fanboying now. Daniel Olivares and Varis Japan, keep doing your thing!